Title:The miRNAs and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Cancers
VOLUME: 20 ISSUE: 33
Author(s):Ching-Wen Lin, Shih-Han Kao and Pan-Chyr Yang
Affiliation:Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Keywords:miRNAs, EMT, Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition, cancers.
Abstract:The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process by which epithelial tumor cells acquire migratory and invasive
abilities that enable them to spread to other organs. During this process, the tight junction molecule, E-cadherin, is often downregulated
through transcription repression by the EMT-inducing transcription factors (EMT-TFs). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small noncoding
RNA molecules which bind to the complementary sequences within mRNA molecules. They post-transcriptionally govern gene
silencing, thus affecting a broad range of physiological conditions, including EMT. In this review, we will discuss some well-known as
well as brand-new EMT-related miRNAs and the signaling pathways in the tumor milieu that regulate their expressions and control cancer
invasion and metastasis. Finally, we will discuss the application of miRNAs as therapeutic targets for treatment of cancer.
